THE PORTLAND Trail Blazers may have left the 2025 NBA Draft with one of the biggest hidden gems of the class, after taking a punt on an international big man with their sole selection in Chicago late last month.

The Trail Blazers were only taking the one pick into the NBA Draft after making a trade to acquire the Memphis Grizzlies’ first round selection via a previous trade. Portland has been adding plenty of backcourt players throughout the draft over recent years, and had another pick to use in what was a strong draft.

Although their selection was questioned at the time of the draft, the Trail Blazers may have just acquired the value pick of the intake, and may have found their centre of the future with a clever addition.

Portland Trail Blazers

Drafted Players

Hansen Yang (pick 16)

It was the most surprising selection of the 2025 NBA Draft in Chicago in June, with the Trail Blazers picking an overseas big man who was not expected to be added to the top level until the following night.

Yang was not expected to be picked up until the second round of proceedings, and was not invited to the green room with the likely first round selections. However, the Trail Blazers backed their scouting and added the Chinese center to their roster, in a move that is looking incredibly clever already.

Yang appears to be in the mould of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic in a lot of ways, given his ability to pass, how well he operates in the post and his functionality around the three-point line as well. That blueprint of player has worked well for Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, and the Trail Blazers will be eager to replicate those results.

Standing a towering seven-foot-one, there is plenty to like about his ability on both ends, boasting impressive paint protection skills, interior offence, playmaking and rebounding. One of the biggest knocks on his game was his three-point shooting, but Yang appears to have addressed this and has been able to stretch the floor throughout the preseason.

Yang has seriously caught the eye during the NBA Summer League with the Trail Blazers, emerging as the breakout rookie of the draft class. He has been ultra impressive on both ends of the floor, putting up some magnificent performances and putting his name forth to be the starting center for the team in the near future.

In his most recent outing, Yang put up 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks, all while shooting 3/6 from behind the arc in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans, in an outing that showed his ability to hit shots from range is as prominent as ever.

Although it was a surprising selection at the time, the Summer League has shown the Trail Blazers may have pulled off a heist with the addition of Yang, who could be the surprise packet of the 2025 NBA Draft class.